Ottawa Home Improvement Blog

The good news is that, with the economy still struggling to get back on its feet, prices for building material have dropped significantly.  So right now is a great time to plan some of those bathroom renovations you have been putting off.

The following 10 tips will help you complete your bathroom renovation with the minimum cost required to ensurte good quality.

1. Plan ahead
Planning ahead will not only help you to stay within budget but it will give you the needed time to find the best deals on materials. Many homeowners think a renovation is an all-or-nothing affair where you have to purchase everything right away, gut the room to the bare bones and then renovate. If you plan ahead, with design ideas and colour schemes, you can slowly acquire the needed items and materials as you find deals or sales. It takes a little research, but ultimately you will save some money.  Give yourself 4 or 5 months to search for the best deals on each item you’ll need..

2. Research for materials and prices
Planning ahead leaves you time to conduct research on materials and where to find better prices. Some specialty stores, specifically ceramic tile stores, sell off their old stock at a fraction of the price.  Timing is everything. You also search through the classified ads in your local newspaper or on the Internet to see who is trying to offload some excess materials.

3. Order Online
You can also save money by ordering materials online. Some online retailers have coupon codes available to reduce prices and many places offer the option to have the materials shipped to the store, which will save you money on shipping fees.

4. Never pay full price
As any good contractor knows, you should never pay full price for materials. Although they usually order it in bulk, Big Box Stores do not always have the best deal on materials, especially if you want to go with higher quality. Going through a contractor to get your materials is usually your best bet at getting insider discounts.

5. Go for quality materials
Just because they may initially be cheaper you should never go for the substandard materials. In the long run the cheap stuff may just end up costing you more to replace when it breaks or wears out. You’ll not only save money but ehadaches, as well, by choosing quality materials.

6. Replace or modernize
When doing a bathroom renovation you essentially have two choices, you can either replace it completely or modernize it. If you are just going for a different look and want to save some money, you can very simply modernize your bathroom with new fixtures, a fresh coat of paint or even have the bathtub and sinks reglazed. With some research, and careful planning you can give your bathroom a stylish update at a fraction of the cost of new materials.

7. Reuse items
Another way to save some money on your bathroom renovation is to reuse items that do not need changing or updating. Even if you are going for the full bathroom renovation you can still reuse certain items, such as vanities, toilets and even tile, and incorporate them into your new design.   You’ll also be doing the responsible thing for the environment.

8. Reduce items
There are many programs that are now offering rebates, credits or other incentives for upgrading to energy efficient products, such as installing water conserving low-flow toilets, faucets or showerheads. Taking advantage of these incentives will also help reduce your monthly utility expenses.  Just like choosing quality materials, an investment in reductions like this can save you money over the long-term.

9. DIY
If you are a bit handy there are parts of your bathroom renovation you may want to do yourself. Although this will help save you money be sure not to go outside your abilities as mistakes could cost you. When in doubt hire a professional. (You don’t want to pay to replace substandard workmanship any more than to replace substandard materials.)

10. Hiring Professionals
Hiring a professional is always a good idea. With building material costs down you are already saving money, but to save more make sure you get a few different quotes and to compare prices.  Remember, just because a quote may be cheaper, it does not necessarily mean the work will be better, so always get at least three references of a contractors works and take the time to look into them before making your decision.

Disaster strikes and you need to put your life back together again. We began the step by step approach that concentrates on you and your family first and then works diligently rebuilding your home in the previous post. Here are steps 5-8.

STEP FIVE: CONSUMABLES, MEDICINES, WATER AND SEWAGE

It is best to throw out all your food and medicine as smoke, fumes and water damage can lead to severe contamination. Contact your Pharmacist and Doctor to refill any essential prescriptions

WATER SAFETY: Contact your public health authority to get approval to ensure your water is safe to drink. Where possible purchase bottled water until out get the go ahead form your public health official to drink your water. If you boil water, make sure you let it boil at least six minutes before you drink it.

SEWAGE DISPOSAL: Do not use your sewage disposal system until you have been given the approval from proper authorities that it is capable of handling waste.

• Sewer system - If your home is connected to a municipal sewer, you will be notified when the system has been restored. Temporary camp toilets can be purchase at many stores as a possible interim measure.
• Septic system - Septic tanks are often damaged by major disasters.It is best to have the tank inspected by a professional before re-using it.

STEP SIX : CLEANING UP - GENERAL

Cleaning your belongings and drying your house are top priorities to prevent the spread of mold and odors. The kind of cleanup you face will depend on the type of natural disaster you survived. Your home and its contents may look beyond hope, but many of your belongings can be restored, whether they were damaged by floodwaters, or smoke and soot. No matter what the disaster, if your house is livable, the first job is to give the house a thorough cleaning and drying. If you need help in cleaning up, contact your ServiceBlocks Inc. professional to assist you.

GENERAL CLEANING TIPS:

• Tackle one room at a time.
• Use the two-bucket approach: one bucket for cleaning solution and the other for rinse water. Change the rinse water frequently.
• Protect your hands, lungs and eyes - wear rubber gloves, a filter mask and safety goggles.
• Clean walls from the bottom up so you can easily see where you have already cleaned.
• Follow a three-step process.
  • First, clean the room or item
  • Second, disinfect it to kill germs and the smell left by floodwaters or smoke.
  • Third, if necessary, get rid of mildew, which shows as fuzzy splotches.

You will have to make difficult decisions about what to keep and what to throw out. Have lots of bags and masking tape available. When in doubt; bag and label your belonging.

Remove flood-soaked insulation in walls. Do this as soon as possible. Wet insulation holds moisture, encourages the growth of moulds and bacteria and keeps other building materials from drying out properly. Remove insulation at least 50 cm (20 inches) above the high-water line.

DRYING

• Dry out the house and its contents quickly and thoroughly in order to prevent the growth of moulds and bacteria. Open doors and windows to allow moist air to escape. Use fans and dehumidifiers if you have an outside source of power, or if indoor electricity has been safely restored.
• Only after you have been given the go ahead by a qualified HVAC technical, you may begin to heat your home to help the drying process.

The basic steps to cleaning up after a flood are: remove standing water; remove mud; tear out any walls that need it; clean up; and disinfect.

• Remove standing water slowly to prevent any further damage. A good rule of thumb is to drain no more than 30% of the water volume per day.
• Hose down your walls as most of the health hazards are contained in the mud left behind by flood waters.

STEP SEVEN :ITEMS NEEDED FOR YOUR INSRANCE CLAIM. INSURANCE MATTERS

Create an inventory list of your belongings for your insurance professional to start working on your claim.

KEEP ALL RECEIPTS:

Keep a copy of your receipts related to living expenses and repairs, permits, inspection forms during your recovery phase. You may need them for insurance purposes.

STEP Eight : Choosing a Contractor

Your ServiceBlocks Inc. team are well prepared to rebuild and restore your home. We work hand-in-hand with you and your insurance professional to develop reasonable rebuilding budgets. Our step wise approach gives you the assurance that we are taking care of you.

Here are some actions that you will need to address to proceed quickly with your restoration. Contact your local authority (municipality or regional district) to find out what steps you need to take to submit plans for rebuilding your home and to get a building permit. Keep in mind that homes must be rebuilt to today’s building code standards, not to the standards that were in place when the house was originally built. In some cases your insurance will only cover cost up to previous building standards. It falls on the homeowner to pay for the difference to bring their home up to the current building code. A frank discussion with your insurance professional will help you in this situation.

Take your time about signing a contract. We work with you to develop budgets to undertake the restoration of your home. Once you agree with the budget and scope of work we formalize this into a written contract with you

Disaster strikes and you need to put your life back together again.  Here is a step by step approach that concentrates on you and your family first and then works diligently rebuilding your home.

STEP ONE : TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMI LY

It is important to take care of you and your family as a first priority. Living through the shock of a disastrous event is a daunting task and it will take some time to get your life back in order. The key ingredient in this phase is to realize that you have a dedicated team of professionals behind you working on your home while you are working on getting your family settled.

Some kind words from friends and neighbours go along way to start cheering you up. But, you must think of yourself as well as your family. It is important that you manage your schedule and not take on too many things at once. Eat as you would normally do and maintain healthy rest periods as you pick up the pieces. Remember things will get done in a short period of time and your life will soon be back to normal

To get yourself and your family back on track, talk about what’s happened. Talking is sometimes the best for the family to work through there problems. As the days go by, knowing it is normal to have various feelings about the disaster, will help you and your family recover from the loss. The burden does not have to lie on your shoulder, there are many resources in your community that will provide you with the support you need as your work through the emotional part of your loss.

STEP TWO: Get a place to Stay.

Contact your insurance company to get your claim underway . Many policies cover the cost of shelter, food and clothing for the reasonable time needed to repair or rebuild your residency up to policy limits. In times of extreme emergency, temporary housing may be made available by your local government or and aid agency.

STEP THREE: Take care of your things.

When you have been given permission from you emergency services department or fire department remove your valuables, essential legal documents, identification, medicines and items of sentimental value.

Secure the property. It’s your responsibility to make sure the house is secured against further damage.  If you rent, the landlord or property manager should be responsible for this contacting us. If you own the home, here’s what you should do:

• Board up broken windows and smashed doors.
• Cover holes in roof and walls.
• In the winter, drain water lines if the house won’t be heated for awhile.

In some cases, the Fire Department will secure the property for you, or the municipal housing department will do it. Your insurance policy may pay reasonable expenses incurred in preserving insured property.

If your property is looted, contact the police immediately. Tell them what was stolen. This report may be needed to file an insurance claim for theft, distinct from any disaster damage claim.

Pets can get very frightened in an emergency, if you have lost one, contact your local SPCA or Humane society and your neighbours so they can keep an eye out for your pet.

Notify Canada Post if you require your mail to be forwarded.

Notify your mortgage company. about the results of the disaster and to keep them informed about what’s being done to restore the property. They may have forms for you to fill out, and they may want to inspect the property.

STEP FOUR : RE - ENTERING YOUR HOME

Once you have received the go ahead to reenter your home, proceed with caution, your safety is more important than your things. Some useful things to bring with you include a flashlight, camera, garbage bags, gloves and safety boots. If your home was flooded you will need mops, pails, wet dry vacuum.

It is wise to err on the side of caution. Before you enter your home check the outside of your home. Stay away if you see downed electrical lines or notice the “rotten egg” smell of leaking gas.

Keep track of your expenses and time in cleaning up. Keep all receipts from cleaning supplies, rental equipment and any cleaning firms you hire. Record the number of hours you and your family or friends spend cleaning up the property each day. These records will be useful if you are making an insurance claim or applying for disaster financial assistance.

Steps 5 - 8 coming soon…